SOUTHLAND’S HARVEST.

Southland Times, Issue 17010, 6 April 1912, Page 5

SOUTHLAND’S HARVEST.

The accounts that have come to I hand regarding harvest prospects in Southland are to some extent in conflict ; but it is satisfactory to note that farmers are by no means in a despairing mood, and the general opinion seems to be that if any good fortune in the matter of weather is conferred upon the country during the next fortnight or three weeks Southland’s harvest will still be a bounteous one. True It is, unforfortunately, that a considerable loss has already been experienced ; but the crops this year have been so uniformly good that, providing no further adverse conditions have to be endured, the output will be a very large one. A good deal of grass seed has been wasted ; but even if the whole of this crop had been saved it is doubtful if farmers would have received a very profitable return on it, as it is commanding a very low price, and this unsatisfactory position would have been accentuated if there had been no losses. In regard to cereals there has not been a great deal of stuff stacked ; but a very large quantity is in stook waiting for a favourable opportunity to be safely secured. The wet weather will undoubtedly tend to discolour the grain ; but as regards this farmers are hoping for the best. The frosts that have been experienced have certainly done no good to the wheat crops, and it is feared that on this account there will be a shortage of milling wheat this year. No matter how favourably one may view the position, however, it must be admitted that farmers will from now on require all the luck that can possibly come their way. The season is now well advanced, and shorter days and less sunshine will have to be accepted. Owing to their extreme heaviness, and to boisterous climatic conditions, a large proportion of the crops are lodged, and this necessarily means that a great deal more labour than usual will be required if the crops are to bo saved. And there is also a shortage of labour to be contended against. It is now generally admitted that the potato crop in Southland will show a great falling-off compared with previous years ; but, although turnips have not come away well in some districts, reports on the whole are more reassuring than they were a few weeks ago. Briefly, this season farmers have certainly not received anything in the nature of favoured treatment ; but, notwithstanding, they refuse to admit that they are in any way despondent, and it is this cheery optimism which induces the man in the town to express the opinion that things have not been nearly as black as they have been painted.